To achieve this goal, the Foundation coordinates releases of GNOME and determines which projects are a part of GNOME. The Foundation acts as an official voice for the GNOME project, providing a means of communication with the press and with commercial and noncommercial organizations interested in GNOME software. The foundation produces educational materials and documentation to help the public learn about GNOME software. In addition, it sponsors GNOME-related technical conferences, such as GUADEC, GNOME.Asia, and the Boston Summit, represents GNOME at relevant conferences sponsored by others, helps create technical standards for the project, and promotes the use and development of GNOME software.

Between 2008 and 2010, Stormy Peters served as the Foundation's executive director.[2][3] She was replaced in June 2011 by Karen Sandler,[4] who served until March 2014[5] and has not been replaced. The Executive Director is selected and hired by the GNOME Board of Directors.[6] Following Sandler's departure, the GNOME Board announced that cash reserves had been drained due to a cash flow problem, as the GNOME Foundation had to front the costs of late payments from sponsors of the 'Outreach Program for Women'.[7] Spending for non-essential activities was therefore frozen to allow the cash reserves to recover throughout 2014.[8]

The Foundation's Board of Directors is elected every year via elections held by the GNOME Foundation Election Committee. In 2014/2015, Board Members are Jean-François Fortin Tam, Andrea Veri, Ekaterina Gerasimova, Tobias Mueller, Karen Sandler, Sriram Ramkrishna, and Marina Zhurakhinskaya.[9]

The Foundation's Advisory Board is a body of organizations and companies that wish to communicate and work closely with the Board of Directors and the GNOME project. Organizations may join the advisory board for an annual fee of between US$5000 and US$10000, or be invited as a non-profit.